Top row: 8th Grade History class “reenacting” the confrontation between the Warsaw Pact countries and the Communist Bloc countries, Teen Press interviewing at Dream Foundation.
Middle and bottom rows: Diamond Time printmaking class!
It's the SCOOP for March 7, 2019
Your weekly news from Santa Barbara Middle School
UPCOMING EVENTS (see details below)
Friday, March 8: Transgender Day of Visibility
Tuesday, March 12 : 8th Grade English/Poetry Slam, 6-8 pm
Wednesday, March 13 : Book Club Discussion, 8:45 am
Thursday, March 14: PA Parking Lot Coffee, 8:30 am
Friday, March 15: Early Dismissal, 2 pm
Monday, March 18 - Friday, March 22: Mid-Year Expeditions (some may depart or return a day earlier or later)
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
SBMS CELEBRATES TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY MAR. 8
We are proud to celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility at SBMS on Friday, March 8. We ask students to wear the colors of the transgender flag if they choose: baby blue, white, and/or light pink. Students from Rainbow Alliance will be discussing the importance of this international holiday at our Town Meeting -- mainly the opportunity to recognize and empower transgender people and to raise awareness of transgender people's contributions to our world.

8TH GRADE ENGLISH/POETRY SLAM NIGHT: MARCH 12, 6-8 PM
Location: Breakfast Culture Club, 711 Chapala St. Please join us for dinner, from 6-6:45, before the poetry slam begins! Poetry will begin promptly at 6:45 pm. Kanaloa Seafood, located next door to Breakfast, will be serving up delicious tacos, poke, burgers, and more. Ten percent of all sales will be donated back to SBMS, so we hope you will bring the whole family for a dinner that will help support our school! Breakfast will be selling many non-alcoholic beverages.  Please RSVP to Elyse by 3/7.

SKI POLES NEEDED
The Winter Mountaineering Course is looking for old ski poles with snow baskets for the mid-year expedition. If you have any, please let Victor know.
SEXUALITY IN ADOLESCENCE
Wondering how to talk about SEX with your adolescent?  Here are a few resources and tips from your Assistant Head of School!

  1. Read the book: It's Perfectly Normal - this book is perfect for parents with puberty-aged children. It is straightforward and doesn't hold anything back (Chapters include topics such as sexual intercourse, masturbation, abstinence/birth control, etc).
  2. Another book option: How to Talk to your Child About Sex - this book is meant only for parents, without any materials for children.
  3. Read the book: How to Talk So Teens Will Listen & Listen So Teens Will Talk- I personally love this book. It is not a book about sex, but gives real life scenarios (with comic illustrations) and suggests how to tweak your language to be better received by teens. 
  4. Ask your child about their Life Skills class! Here are some of the topics we cover from 6-9th grade at SBMS! (Please note that this list does not include all topics and is currently being reviewed and updated.)
  5. If either you or your child are too nervous for a sit-down conversation, talk about these topics while on a walk or in the car. Avoiding eye contact can allow your child to feel more comfortable and receptive to the talk. 
MID-YEAR EXPEDITION INFORMATION
Below are websites for each trip. The websites contain Friday trip prep info, trip departure/return info, packing lists, and more. Please read thoroughly!


Gear for the Mid-Year Expeditions may be purchased at our school-run Warehouse; open Mon. 8:30-10am; Tues. 9:30-11am & 2:45-3:45pm; Wed. 2:30-3:30pm; Thurs. 9:30-11am; & Fri. 8:30-10am. By appointment: email  Erik@sbms.org . Mountain Air Sports also is offering 10% discount to SBMS students on trip gear (must be on a trip packing list).
FROM DEVELOPMENT
How Can You Help Make the Auction a Success?
The Annual Spring Dinner and Auction is our largest fundraiser and community event of the year - made possible by you! Our hope is that every family will donate or help facilitate the donation of one auction item to support the success of the event. All donations are tax-deductible gifts. Here are a few ideas:
  • Vacation Stays: Donate a week or weekend getaway or staycation.
  • Massage or Spa Treatments: Give the gift of R&R.
  • Food Experiences: Pick up a gift card to your favorite restaurant or coordinate a private dinner with a local chef.
  • Fine Jewelry & Apparel: Grab a gift card or beautiful new item from a local shop.
  • Sport & Adventure Gear: You know this crowd will put it to the test.
  • Fine Wine or Spirits: Always a hit.
Please stop by the Development Office to drop off an item, or fill out  this online donation form . Thank you in advance for your support!

Who's In?: Guy's Poker Night: April 13, 2019, 5-10 pm
Join a full house of SBMS dads for a Texas Hold 'em tournament, hosted by Steve Byrd! Buy-in is set at $100, and a spread of tacos, tequila, margaritas, and beer will keep you fed and hydrated as you play. Bust out early? No problem - buy back in or watch the games while playing ping-pong or corn hole. Prize money is divvied out among the top three finishers! 

$125 per person to attend - $25 ticket to secure your spot, and please bring $100 cash to event.  RSVP to Steve here . 
LIBRARY NEWS
GREAT READING FOR GROWN-UPS: NEXT BOOK ANNOUNCED
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
by Gail Honeyman

Books are available for sale in the library and office. The discussion will take place on Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at 8:45 am.

SPRING EXPEDITIONS & SPRING BREAK
It’s all just a few weeks away! What will your child be reading? Our SBMS Library has many new and noteworthy titles to usher in the season!

Here are a just a few suggested reads for your child:

  • ON THE COME UP by Angie Thomas
  • SEVEN KINGDOMS TRILOGY by Kristin Cashore
  • NEW KID by Jerry Craft
  • THE POET X: A NOVEL by Elizabeth Acevedo
  • THE DEAD QUEENS CLUB by Hannah Capin
  • FIVE FEET APART by Rachael Lippincott
  • DRY by Neal Schusterman
  • BRIDGE OF CLAY by Markus Zusak
  • TWO CAN KEEP A SECRET by Karen M. McManus
  • THE GIRL KING by Mimi Yu
  • THREE DARK CROWNS SERIES by Kendare Blake
  • THE ASSASSINATION OF BRANGWAIN SPURGE by M.T. Anderson
  • A HEART IN A BODY IN THE WORLD by Deb Caletti
  • YOU’LL MISS ME WHEN I’M GONE by Rachel Lynn Solomon
  • THE GIVER: The Graphic Novel Adaptation by Lois Lowry and P. Craig Russell

#checkitoutatSBMSlibrary
PARENT ASSOCIATION
Dear Parents,

Thank you so much to everyone who showed up at the parent meeting yesterday and to Elsa Granados for her informative presentation on sexual assault. Click here to read the minutes, click here to view a PFD of her power point and the video can be found via Tea and Consent .

The kids are nearing the final stretch of preparing for the Spring Trips, hiking around our beautiful mountains, weekly bike trips, surfing, canoeing and mountaineering… dodging rain and getting outside to enjoy Santa Barbara. Magic happens on these trips when the kids bond together with each other in nature and in smaller groups- they truly are “healing” trips. We parents have an opportunity to bond as well at the Parent Social and Cocktail Party at El Paseo Mexican Restaurant Thursday, March 21, from 5:00-7:30 pm. There will be a no-host bar and appetizers will be served. Please book your babysitters now and join us for some adult fun time! Please RSVP to the evite here .

Upcoming Events
  • Thurs. 3/14: Parent Parking Lot Coffee 8:30am
  • Thurs. 3/21: Parent Social and Cocktail Party at El Paseo Mexican Restaurant, 5:30-8:30pm. No host bar & appetizers provided.
  • Tues. 4/16: 7:00pm Parent Meeting on Social Media and Cyber Bullying with Dr. Chunyan Yang from UCSB. Many of you are coming to me with concerns about social media so this will be an important meeting to try to make. In the meantime, click here for A LOT of good info.

Please feel free to email me with any questions.
With gratitude,
SUMMER CAMPS

SBMS MOUNTAIN BIKING AND BIKE MECHANICS CAMPS
Learn how to ride your bicycle properly on trails and also learn basic bike mechanics. Camp is taught by the experienced staff of S.B. Middle School. Explore the bike trails at Wilcox Preserve, More Mesa, and more. You must bring a bike, helmet, and gloves. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Ages 9-13. Mon.-Fri., 9am-3pm; June 24-28; July 1-3 (for intermediate to advanced bikers, 9am-12 noon $200); July 8-12; July 15-19; July 22-26. $325/week. S.B. Middle School,1321 Alameda Padre Serra. Email summercamp@sbms.org to sign up or for more information.

CATE SCHOOL CAMPS
Cate Summer Institute  is a residential academic program for current 6th and 7th graders. They offer three sessions, June 16-22, June 23-29 and July 28-August 3 (new for 2019!). Students will choose their primary class as well as an elective. All students participate in a outdoor session which will include a different activity each day (surfing, mountain biking, SUP and kayaking, hiking and ropes course). 

Cate Sports Academy  offers day and residential options for 6th - 11th graders. CSA runs Monday - Friday from July 8-August 2. Sports campers will have 5-6 hours of sports training each day and evening activities and field trips at night. They also offer opportunities to swim and play ping pong and relax during non-sports hours. 

Cate Summer Outdoors  is NEW this year. There’s no better place than Cate to enjoy nature. Building on Cate School's successful outdoors program and led by Cate instructor, Pete Bonning, Cate Summer Outdoors is an ideal summer option to make unforgettable memories, form lasting friendships, and develop a deep connection with the natural environment. The landscape of California is vast and varied, and you'll find a little bit of everything in Cate's backyard. From the rugged coastline along the Pacific Ocean to the mountainous regions of the Los Padres National Forest, CSO participants are in close proximity to some of the best backpacking, surfing, and rock climbing in the nation. Space is very limited!
ON THE HORIZON
Thursday, March 21: Parent only Cocktail Party at El Paseo Restaurant, 5-7:30pm
Monday, March 25 - Friday, April 5: Spring Break
Monday, April 8: Classes Resume
CONTACT US
FOLLOW US